Hanging Around (Tanaga)

I was invited by Elizabeth from Tea and Paper to join the Five Photos, Five Stories Challenge: “Post a photo each day for five consecutive days and attach a story to the photo. It can be fiction or non-fiction, a poem or a short paragraph and each day nominate another blogger for the challenge”. Elizabeth posts photos, poems, artsy stuff and other things on her lovely blog. Please drop by and check it out.

My nomination for today is Rob, from The V-Pub. Rob is a fun blogger that writes about everything and anything, and has been a faithful friend for over a year and a half now.

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The above photo is of a plant that hangs from bananas, and was taken close to my house. I have written a Tanaga poem once again to pair with my photo. I thought the theme of the poem was perfect for it.

Here is another photo I took of the plant hanging from the bananas.

Modern living has placed expectations on humanity (at least much of the western world) to always be busy. I have decided not to buy into that way of thinking. I believe that living a healthy lifestyle doesn’t just mean eating right and exercising. A healthy lifestyle includes taking care of the entire being – body, soul and spirit. For this to happen, it is necessary to stop regularly and just hang out. Do nothing. Relax and rest. It may even mean saying ‘no’ to others when they ask something of you.

Do you regularly take time out to just hang out? To do nothing? To relax and breathe a bit? What do you like to do to relax and take care of yourself?

Urban Melody/Melodia Urbana

This poem is my first collaboration with Adriano Yamamoto, a very talented Brazilian poet. We wrote this poem together considering issues of modern society, consumerism and the lack of affection and human connection. After reading Culture Monk’s post, I just knew this was the topic to go with.

How does this poem make you feel? Do you believe that modern living causes us to isolate ourselves? Do you believe that it’s a huge contributor to the depression epidemic?

The Escape… …The Return

a longing
to escape
jump off the world
take a break

searching out
hope to find
a place of solace
peace of mind

raging emotions
battling for space
depriving spirit
trembling base

stop and pray
breathe in deep
pray to him
start to weep

suddenly
i see his face
home again
in his embrace

Have you ever felt like you wanted to jump off this roller coaster ride called, Life? Like you wanted to say, “Good bye world. I’m going to get on the carousel now with the pink ponies, bright lights and cheery music?” I have. In fact, that’s how I was feeling yesterday, and the start of this poem was birthed.

Earlier this week I wrote another poem, due to the stress I was under. It sounds like I’m trying to be a bit of kill joy or downer. That isn’t my intention though. We all have bad days, weeks, months, you name it. But that’s also what builds beauty and character in to our lives, don’t you think?

I know that in this world, I will always have trouble. In this world, all people will have trouble. But I choose to run to the one who has overcome this world. I cope with the stresses of life by stopping, praying, breathing in his waves of peace and submitting to his embrace. Aahhhhhhhhh.

What are your coping mechanisms? When life gets too tough for you, do you give up? Or do you push through until you see the light at the end of the tunnel?

Time, Stress and a Cry (Etheree)

Time
Brutal
Enemy
Relentless foe
Never on my side
Greatest causer of stress
Draining tranquil life from me
Causing emotional turmoil
Laughing at my swift raising heartbeat
Relishing in my scurrying around
Doesn’t stop, won’t care, just keeps going
He won’t wait for anybody
No matter how much you plead
Nor how much you appeal
Implore all you want
He won’t listen
He likes stress
I cry
Time

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the pressures that time puts on you? Do you often feel like, “If I just had more time?” Do you find that the lack of it in your life causes you stress.  I do.

This poem was inspired today as I was driving home from dropping my husband off at the airport.  The time has finally come for the pre-release of our newest feature-length film, “Internal Mazes”.  Life has been crazy busy, to say the least.  It has caused exhaustion, stress, bad attitudes and yucky emotions. It’s at times like these that kindness, sensitivity and affection take a back seat.

I found myself sitting in the car, just before pulling out, breathing for a second – and then it came – the cry.  Even now, in just writing this, I cry. When stress gets too much for me – when I’m overwhelmed with all that needs to be done – my reaction is to cry (that is after all of the freaking out and running around like a chicken with its head cut off).

How do you react to stress? How do you handle having too much to do in so little time? Do you make a list? Do you compose yourself and think things through calmly? Or do you freak out, like me?